Crystal Lake C. Ends South Streak

Central Ends Jinx Against Rival

They don't think so. No, the Crystal Lake Central girls were celebrating a big one Thursday night after a come-from-behind victory over rival Crystal Lake South.

The 4-15, 15-6, 15-9 victory the No. 10 Tigers (19-2) handed No. 8 South (18-2-3) was the first Central victory in the series since 1989. The seven losses in a row included two straight sectional final defeats when Central finished the season 33-4, only to see South move on to the state final series.

"I told them, they seem happy, but they don't even know how I feel," Central coach Doug Blundy said. His relief accompanied a newfound confidence the Tigers will need if they face South again. That meeting could, and probably will, come in the regionals later this month.

"I always tell them, if you play hard, you can do it," said Blundy, "and they say, `I know I can,' but they really know they can."

There can be no doubt after the way the Tigers came back from a first-game drubbing by the Gators. South reeled off the nine opening points on a trail of Central errors. By the time Central's Lindsay Anderson and Sarah Murphy started putting up some blocks and the Central defense started working, it was too late.

In the second game, however, Central turned the tables, with Kim Thurow serving the first six points and Amy Rett acing the Gators for a 7-0 Central lead.

Anderson and Kate Boone turned on the kills (they had 12 and 10 for the match), and Central was suddenly a different team.

The third game saw both teams even up, but Central pulled to a 10-6 lead and simply made the margin hold up. Sophomore Tiffany Swanson served out the game from 12-9, including an ace.

"We realized we could play with this team," Anderson said. After the first-game change-over, Blundy had told his team: "We planned on playing three games when we came in here. Here's one, so we got two more."

That helped take the pressure off. "We knew we just really had to hustle," Swanson said.

"They just played better, that's all," said South coach Pete Kottra in the aftermath. His team was led by seven kills and four blocks from Jenny Nelson and eight kills from Diane Dicks.

None could counter the explosive 6-foot Anderson, though. The middle hitter is a Division I college prospect who is considering Georgia Tech, Penn State and Duke.

Afterward, as the girls mugged for their parents' cameras, the senior Anderson said: "This is a big deal. Awesome. A great feeling."